A Mobile shipyard that repairs and maintains commercial and government vessels is getting federal funding to improve its operations and help strengthen the nation’s supply chains.
Alabama Shipyard LLC is one of seven small businesses selected for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s first Critical Suppliers Prize Competition. The agency announced more than $18 million in total awards Sept. 24.
The Mobile company will use its share for fabrication upgrades. According to the SBA, the funding will help the selected businesses increase production, improve efficiency and take on more work.
The competition supports domestic manufacturing in industries including defense, aerospace, shipbuilding and advanced materials. It focuses on suppliers that can expand production and help address bottlenecks that slow the delivery of important components and materials.
Under the competition’s rules, applicants had to demonstrate that they could increase production or improve production efficiency within six months of receiving an award.
“Capital is a force multiplier for small businesses, and the awards in the Critical Suppliers Prize Competition will unleash more productive capacity to strengthen America’s supply chains, drive job growth, and align the agency’s programs with real results,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler.
Alabama Shipyard began operations in 2019 at a facility with a much longer history. The site dates to 1916 and later built and maintained vessels for the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Today, the shipyard provides maintenance, repair, overhaul and conversion services for commercial and government vessels. It also dismantles ships that have reached the end of their service.
Located on Pinto Island at the mouth of the Mobile River, the shipyard occupies 356 acres and has three full-service piers with five deep-water berths. It also operates a floating drydock that the SBA describes as one of the largest in the United States, measuring more than 787 feet long and 164 feet wide.
Alabama Shipyard is the only Alabama business among the seven recipients. The other winners are Trenton Forging in Michigan, JD Machine Corp. in Utah, Queen City Forging in Ohio, Jet Helseth Manufacturing in Florida, ShaloTek in Georgia and Synthio Chemicals in Colorado.
Their projects include new forging and precision-machining equipment, automation and expanded production of specialty chemicals. The SBA says the investments will help companies bring manufacturing back to the United States and strengthen the domestic industries that support national security.
“The competition was based on specific objectives and uses for the capital to grow and reshore manufacturing capabilities,” Loeffler said. “These awards will give proven industrialists the resources to scale faster, invest in new equipment, and deliver the materials, components, and technologies our country needs across our most important sectors, from defense to energy. By backing these businesses, the Trump SBA is helping rebuild the industrial strength that will power America’s economy and national security for decades to come.”
For Alabama Shipyard, the award will support upgrades at a Mobile waterfront operation that continues the area’s long tradition of servicing commercial and government vessels.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
